Scripture Daily

Context No. 1449 of 4322 · Jeremiah

Context · Reflection

Jeremiah 42:7-12: in context

7After ten days, the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah. 8Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 9and said to them, “The LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before him, says: 10‘If you will still live in this land, then I will build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I grieve over the distress that I have brought on you. 11Don’t be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Don’t be afraid of him,’ says the LORD, ‘for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. 12I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you, and cause you to return to your own land.

The remnant left in Judah after the fall of Jerusalem, terrified of the king of Babylon, have asked Jeremiah to seek God's word on whether they should flee to Egypt. After ten days God answers. If you stay in this land, he says, I will build you up and not tear you down, plant you and not uproot you, for I grieve over the disaster I have brought on you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon whom you fear; do not be afraid of him, for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hand. I will show you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you return to your own land.

Two things in God's answer are worth holding. The first is a remarkable thing for God to say: I grieve over the disaster I have brought on you. God does not speak of the judgment he had sent as something he inflicted coldly or without feeling; he says he grieves over it, is moved with sorrow at the suffering of his people, even the suffering he himself allowed for their correction. This is a God who is not indifferent to the pain of those he disciplines, who takes no pleasure in their affliction, who grieves over the very trouble he permits. The second is his reassurance against fear: do not be afraid of the king of Babylon whom you fear, for I am with you to save you. The remnant were paralyzed by fear, ready to flee to Egypt for safety; and God's answer to their fear is not first an argument but a presence: I am with you. The reason not to fear the thing they feared was that God was with them to save them. There is comfort in both together. The God who is with us to save us is also the God who grieves over the disasters that touch us; his presence is not that of a distant deity but of one who feels our pain and stands with us in it. The remnant were tempted to flee to a false refuge out of fear; God called them to stay and trust his presence instead. When fear tempts us toward false refuges, the answer is the same: do not be afraid, for I am with you, and I grieve over your distress.

When fear tempts me to flee to a false refuge, can I hear God's answer, do not be afraid, for I am with you to save you, and can I trust that the God who permits my distress also grieves over it and stands with me in it?

Sources